Some trips are more eventful than others. Between being (briefly) lost in the woods and seeing evidence of historic flooding, this trip included several unexpected moments.
Where We Stayed
Pipestem Resort State Park is unlike most state parks we’ve been to. In addition to a campground, they have cabins and a lodge. The lodge has a restaurant; a pizza place/lounge; an indoor, heated pool; a spa; and more. There’s also an impressive gift shop and an ice cream shop.
Pipestem even has an aerial tram down to another lodge at the bottom of the valley, across the Bluestone River. That lodge and the tram were closed, but if you want to read more about it, see this post about a previous trip to Pipestem when we got to take the tram. (Spoiler: it’s dog-friendly!)
The campground itself is pretty basic, with a small camp store, a playground, and a bathhouse. There are 82 sites. Of those, 31 have full hookups, 18 have electric, and 33 have water and electric hookups. One side of the campground is more in the woods, while the other is more open and grassy.
| Campground Name | Pipestem Campground |
| Location | Pipestem, WV |
| Dates | October 24-27, 2024 |
| Site Number | Site 6 |
| Site Surface | gravel, unlevel! |
| Hookups | Full hookups + 50-amp electric |
| Cost | $60 per night |
| Water Pressure | 90-95 psi |
| Voltage | ~120-1255 V |
| Verizon Speed Test | 44 Mbps down; 2 Mbps up |
| T-Mobile Speed Test | 10 Mbps down; 4 Mbps up |
| Campground WiFi | None |
This trip was a last-minute decision when other plans fell through. By the time we chose this campground, most of the sites were already taken. Site 6 was one of only sites available, and it didn’t take us long to figure out why.
To back into this site, you must back your rig uphill. Add to that a pretty significant ditch on the driver’s side and loose gravel on sloped ground on the passenger side and you get a really tricky site and some tense moments. We are lucky that Jesse’s backing/towing skills are top-notch or we wouldn’t have made it.
And the fun didn’t stop there! Once we were in the site, we backed to what looked like a reasonable spot to park and turned on the Level Mate. The passenger side was more than 6.5 inches lower than the driver’s side. Our red level blocks can only fix a difference of about 3.5 inches. After some forward-and-back shuffling to try to find a better spot, we ended up digging out some of the gravel and dirt on the driver’s side. Then we backed the driver’s side tires into this new, lower channel and used our red levelers to raise the passenger side.
Once we were parked and level, the site was pretty nice. The campsites on either side aren’t super close. There are no sites behind it, just trees for almost 300 feet before the main road through the park, and the road is on top of a decent hill, so the site feels fairly private.
Pipestem State Park
The campground may be basic, but the park itself has a lot to do including all of these (and probably more that we missed):
- splash pad
- adventure lake
- ziplines
- skeet shooting
- white-water rafting
- archery
- indoor pool
- endless hiking opportunities
- mini golf and regular golf
- disc golf
- horseback riding
- spa
- ice cream shop
- gift shop
(Some are seasonal, so be sure to do your research before you get your hopes up about any of them.)
When we checked in, we got a map of the campground as well as a park map. The park map was very detailed and was a big help all weekend. There are trail descriptions on one side and a map on the other.
What We Did
County Line Trail
The County Line Trail starts at the Nature Center. We were there before the Nature Center opened, so the parking lot was empty.
This trail provided a beautiful walk through the woods, but it wasn’t an easy hike. The state park map describes it as a “steep, somewhat rugged trail.” There were a lot of downhill sections with rocks where you had to be careful where you stepped.
We didn’t quite make it to the end of the 1.9-mile trail (one direction), so I think we did about 3 miles of the trail.
McKeever Lodge
Even if you’re staying at the campground, I recommend at least walking through the McKeever Lodge. There’s a game room, a pool, a restaurant, and a gift shop, among other things.
While exploring the lodge, we found this puzzle on a table in a quiet hallway. It’s not something you see in many hotels, and I think it’s a nice touch.
Pipestem Sticker Search Tip
We have a campground sticker collection on the back of our RV. During out time at Pipestem, we learned you can purchase stickers in several different places, but they don’t all sell the same ones. If you’re also in search of a Pipestem sticker, be sure to check out the selection at the campground store, the McKeever Lodge gift shop, and the gift shop in the Canyon Rim Center.
The back of the lodge has a large deck with an incredible view.
My only complaint is the railing. There are at least a dozen rocking chairs on the deck, but when you’re sitting in them, the railing is at exactly the wrong height.
Indoor Pool
McKeever Lodge has a heated indoor pool. When we learned that campers can pay a day-use fee of $6 per person to use the pool, we decided to give it a try.
It took us a while to find, but the entrance to the pool is on the 4th floor. To get to the pool, enter the lodge through the main entrance by the parking lot. Turn right just inside the automatic doors and use the stairs or elevator to go down one floor. From the elevators, turn left. Go through the game room. The doors in the back, right corner lead you to the pool area where you can pay the fee and change.
The water was nice, and they even mentioned it wasn’t as warm as they usually keep it. The deep end is 8.5 feet deep, and they even allowed diving.
There was only one person in the pool when we got there, and he left about 10 minutes later. We were surprised to find out there is a lifeguard.
There are restrooms, showers, and places to change, so there’s no need to wear your bathing suit from the campground if you don’t want to.
Pipestem Pool Tip
The changing area also has showers. They aren’t fancy, but the water is hot and doesn’t fill up your RV’s grey tank. If you plan ahead and bring shampoo, conditioner, etc. with you to the pool, you can clean up after your swim without having to worry about your RV’s tank capacity or hot water supply.
Zipline
We’ve been to a number of zipline places over the years. It’s interesting to see how they differ from one another. Pipestem uses a double-line system, which is something we’ve only seen at maybe one or two other places. The other main difference was that their trolleys have handles, which we’ve never seen before. I felt like their harness and equipment was heavier/less comfortable than other places we’ve been, but I could have just been imagining that.
Typically, the course has nine ziplines and ends with a tram ride that takes you up from the valley. However, with the tram being down for construction/updates, they’ve had to improvise. When we reached a certain point of the course, our guides radioed the office. Two employees drove UTVs down the River Trail and met us at the end of the eighth zipline. We all piled into the UTVs and they gave us a lift back to the building where we started.
I always hate how I look in pictures, and the helmet only makes it worse, so just focus on the amazing scenery!
Between the fall colors and the ziplines over the gorge, the views were incredible. Our guides, Bryan and Sam, were great. They were professional, while also fun. They told us about the wildlife they’ve seen while out ziplining and other course adventures. If you’re reasonably fit and looking for a new way to experience the park, definitely give this a try.
If it’s your first time ziplining or you’re worried about the physical elements, maybe skip this one. I say that for a couple of reasons. First, the trip starts with a 0.5-mile hike to the first zipline. It didn’t sound bad to us, but the hike was downhill the whole way with lots of loose rocks, and parts were pretty steep. We made it, but our knees were feeling it by the end, and I can see how some people might have more trouble with it. Second, a couple of these ziplines were very very high (300+ feet I believe) and some of the highest we’ve done. If you’re really afraid of heights, you probably wouldn’t even consider signing up, but if you’re uncomfortable with heights, you might want to wait for a course that isn’t designed to take advantage of the fact that it goes over a large, scenic gorge.
Lake Shore Trail
To access the Lake Shore Trail, we parked by the splash pad and walked down to the lake along the paved road, also known as Long Branch Trail.
At some point, the road splits. We took the road to the right on our way down and the other side on our way back. The way back had a pretty steep section. If we go back, we’ll probably skip that side and go up the same way we went down. It is important to note that those two sides are only connected by a trail. If you drive, you have to come back up whatever way you went down. The only way to make it a loop is to walk and take a portion of the trail. In the map below, white and red is paved, blue is trail, and red is steep.
This was a much easier hike than the County Line Trail. It wasn’t completely level, but it was much less steep and you weren’t constantly worried about twisting an ankle on rocks.
The only tricky part is that somewhere along the way, we lost the trail. For a while we were following a trail, but probably not the right trail. And then at some point, the trail kind of disappeared and we were lost in the woods for a little bit. Jesse pulled up All Trails on his phone and we used that to figure out where the trail was and what direction we needed to go to reach it.
We think this is where we went wrong. At the north end of the lake, there’s a small shed that serves as a restroom.
Because of the name, we assumed the trail stuck pretty close to the shoreline, so we turned right and took the trail that went over the dam.
We should have continued straight, toward the restrooms. I think the Lake Shore Trail actually went that way and we actually picked up part of some unofficial trail when we turned right.
Despite the trail name, the water access wasn’t great, so be sure to bring water with you if you’re hiking with dogs. We crossed a creek a few times, but there wasn’t much water in it. While the trail takes you close to the lake in several places, the bank was usually too steep or the lake was too deep for Aiken and Corona (they prefer wading, not swimming). At the base of the paved road where we came in, there is a long, sandy section. The lake gets deep quickly, but there was room for the dogs to wade in to get their paws wet and get a drink. It appears to be a popular spot for fishing, so we had to look for an open section for the dogs to go in.
Bolar Observation Tower
The Bolar Observation Tower sits on a hill near the park entrance. At 3,000 feet in elevation, the hill is the highest point in the park.
From the parking lot, it’s just over a quarter-mile walk to the top of the hill. It’s steep, but it’s paved the whole way. I think you’ll find that the views were worth the effort.
Pipestem Falls
Pipestem Falls is an easy, six-minute drive from the campground. Parking lot is a generous term. It’s more of a pull-off along the road and there was quite a drop. I would not try that with an RV, but with our truck it was fine.
You can see part of it from the parking area, but the better view is near the top of the flight of stairs. Climb the stairs, turn left, and go into the trees.
West Virginia Sightseeing Tip
Have you heard about the West Virginia Waterfall Trail? We certainly hadn’t until we spotted this sign by the Pipestem Falls parking lot. Apparently, you can get a virtual waterfall passport (and earn prizes) by visiting qualifying waterfalls. Check out this website for more information.
Bluestone State Park
Bluestone State Park is about 15 minutes from the Pipestem campground. With another state park so close, we decided we should check it out. Our first stop was the Almost Heaven swing that looks out over the New River. It’s a quick, easy stop that’s right along the road and offers an amazing view. Plus, who doesn’t love a good swing??
Something Wasn’t Right
Bluestone also has a campground (well, four technically), so we wanted to drive around and get an idea if we’d like to camp there in the future. While driving along the road to the campground, we first started to think something wasn’t right. Some of the greenery…wasn’t green. I had a fleeting though of “this was flooded” but it didn’t make sense, so I dismissed it.
Some parts of the road looked like this…
While others looked like this…
The gates to both campgrounds were closed. There was debris in the roads.
Eventually, we turned around and stopped at the boat launch. We ended up talking with a gentleman who comes to the park every year. We asked about what we’d seen and he explained that Hurricane Helene caused historic flooding of Bluestone Lake. According to him, it was the 2nd highest level in recorded history.
I’ve never been so close to evidence of this level of flooding. Pictures really don’t compare to seeing it in person, but I hope it comes across in some of these photos. You can tell the flood level in the photos by where the fall leaf colors begin.
One of Bluestone’s campgrounds has 39 sites that are only accessible by boat. (Cool, huh?) They’re small in this photo, but can you make out some of the docks along the shoreline?
Our last stop was the main boat launch area under the WV-20 bridge (by the Almost Heaven swing). This was one of the most striking visuals to show the flood level. See the steep hill under the bridge? Toward the top of the photo, you can see some green grass. The line between the green and the brown below it is where the water stopped. The truck gives you an idea of scale.
Where We Ate
Bluestone Dining Room
We tried to eat dinner at the McKeever Lodge Bluestone Dining Room, but when we got there, they told us they were only serving their buffet menu that night. Apparently they usually serve the buffet on weekends, but they make the decision other nights based on how many guests are in the lodge. Just something to keep in mind if you’re planning to eat there one night.
River City Grill & Pub
River City Grill and Pub is about 17 minutes from the campground, in Hinton. They have an outdoor deck that looks out over the New River. The photos on Google Maps make it look like a marvelous view, but by the time we got there, we decided it was too chilly for us to sit outside.
The inside wasn’t nearly as scenic, and was actually a little confusing. There was something strange about the whole side where the kitchen was. We could see what looked like those foldable closet doors on one side. There were large Halloween decorations on the other.
The fries were pretty good, but that’s about it. We didn’t think the burgers were particularly good. I think we’ll skip this restaurant if we are back in the area again.
Wildlife
We had several noteworthy wildlife sightings on this trip! The first is this wild turkey who jumped out near the park’s entrance.
So many deer! If you drive through the park around dawn or dusk, there’s a good chance you’ll see at least one.
We found these tracks in the sand along the bank of Long Branch Lake. I believe they are deer and raccoon tracks.
Ok, I know this photo is terrible, but I spotted this chipmunk along the trail to the Bolar Observation Tower and desperately wanted a photo. Chipmunks move so quickly, I figured if I zoomed in too much, I wouldn’t catch him in the frame. So I was zoomed out and had to crop the photo later.
Can you see his stripes behind the skinny leaves?
Happy travels!
